When 22-year-old Stuart Andrews would deliver a washer, dryer or refrigerator at a Lancaster County home, he often wouldn't leave the residence empty-handed, police say.

Andrews, who delivered household appliances for Gochnauer's Home Appliance Center Inc., of East Petersburg, allegedly looked around the homes for cameras, loose money and other easy-to-hide items.

The Lancaster Township man then took items from the homes and, once he got back to the store, would conceal them in his own vehicle, according to police.

Now Andrews, of 1706 Judie Lane, Apt. G, faces six charges of theft by unlawful taking filed by police in Manheim Township, Lititz, East Hempfield Township and Penn Township.

Losses to the homeowners ranged from about $80 to about $470. Two of the stolen items were $470 digital cameras, which Andrew sold on eBay for $50 apiece, police said.

All the homes were occupied, either by the residents or a cleaning lady, when the thefts occurred, police said.

And police had high praise for the appliance company, crediting officials there with helping catch Andrews.

"I would hope that people would not hold this against the company," said John Schofield, Lititz police detective. "I've never experienced a more cooperative company in trying to get to the bottom of the investigation."

In fact, Schofield credited the owner of the company with solving the crime.

"The owner of the company took it into his own hands, found out who the person was who was responsible for taking the items. He did his own investigation and called us right away. In fact, he called us several times to get the officers out there," Schofield said. "This guy was very helpful."

Manheim Township Police Detective Brent Shultz described the string of crimes allegedly committed by Andrews as brazen and "something you don't expect."

"You expect people who come into your home to deliver appliances to be honest," Shultz said, "and not steal from you."

We are very surprised by this," said Adam Gochnauer, a vice president at the Gochnauer's store at 5939 Main St., East Petersburg,

"We've been in business for close to 60 years and never had anything like this happen," he said.

Andrews had worked at Gochnauer's about four months, Adam Gochnauer said.

After receiving calls from customers about missing items late last month, store officials with the assistance of Manheim Township police set up a "sting" operation in an effort to catch the suspect.

After Andrews returned from a delivery, store officials confronted him and had him open his trunk and glove compartment, where many of the stolen items were found, Gochnauer said.

In Lititz, Scofield said Andrews allegedly committed two thefts, stealing cash and wallets while delivering appliances.

The detective said in both cases, not only was the homeowner present, but a fellow, unsuspecting co-worker was also along.

Although the value of the cash and wallets totaled $70, Schofield said, the total loss was around $300 for items charged illegally on a credit card.

East Hempfield Township Police also filed a theft charge against Andrews for an alleged incident in Landisville last month.

Detective Paul Fitzsimmons said Andrews was delivering an appliance to a Landisville home when he allegedly stole a wallet containing $80 in cash from the purse of an elderly woman who was visiting the homeowner.

Schofield said many businesses are not so cooperative, fearing negative publicity.

But in this case, Schofield added, not only did the company owner identify the suspect and contact police, "the owner is doing everything he can to make good on the losses."

"I can't say enough good things about the company and the owner."

On March 10, while delivering a dryer at an occupied home on Dead End Road near Brickerville, Andrews allegedly stole a $471 digital camera from the homeowner, Penn Township police Detective Jason Riggle said.

On March 20, while delivering and hooking up a refrigerator at another occupied Penn Township home on Sego Sago Road, Andrews allegedly took a pocketbook and $477 digital camera, Riggle said.

"The occupants were there at the time. He (Andrews) would just sneak around. His co-worker didn't even know it," Riggle said.

On March 22, Andrews delivered an appliance at a home in he 1000 block of Buckwalter Road in Manheim Township. The residents were away, but a cleaning lady was there.

Police said Andrews took money the homeowners had left for the cleaning lady along with money from the woman's purse. An iPod and a portable Nintendo game system also were stolen, police said.

CONTACT US: jhoober@LNPnews.com or 481-6027